Range and refrigerator construction



Max-ch14, 1939. v J. TELL-ER ET AL 2,150,300

- RANGE KND REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 15, 1956 a Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS cfaaaj 71 x70 992 JP Jewel/2 ATTORNEY.

March 14,1939. V J. TELLER. ET AL 50,

RANGE AND REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 15, 1936 8 Sheets-Shet 2 IVNVENTORS 0/4006 Tel/6] BY f 271 Sa/a/z ATTORNEY Margzh 14, 1939. J. TELLER ET AL RANGE AND REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 13, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VENTORS I %ca eZ/er 21? Jaw/Z2 ATTORNEY.

' March 14, 1939. J. TELLER ET AL 2,150,300

RANGE AND REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 15, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 0/400! ikZ/ar BY "(W272 Jail/[Z ATTORNEY.

Margh 14, 1939.

J. TELLER ET AL RANGE AND REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 13, 1936 INVENTORS Maaafi [EX/a BY %?50'? .S'Malz ATTORNET.

March 14, 1939.

J. TELLER ET AL RANGE AND REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 15, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet e March 14, 1939. J. TELLER ET AL I RANGE AND REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION.

8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed April 13, 1936 INVENTORS y {W )7]? SMZ/ZZ ATTORNEQ! March 14, 1939.

J. TELLER ET AL RANGE AND REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 13, 1936 8 Sheets- Shet s ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 14, 1939' umrso STATES 2,150,300 RANGE AND REFRIGERATOR ooNs'rRUc- TION Jacob Teller and Arthur P. Schulz, Chicago, 111., assignors, by mesne assignments, to said Jacob Teller and Grace Teller, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 13, 1936, Serial No. 74,215

- Claims. (01. 29-1482) 7 The present invention relates to methods. of

, forming cabinet constructions.

More specifically, the invention relates to novel methods of forming. frame structures or supporting members or what may be termed the chassis of cabinet constructions.

Cabinets, such as ranges and refrigerators have heretofore been constructed by providing a relatively heavy metal frame of angle-iron construction of channel, T or L shape, in cross section. Such frames required many operations such as notchingat the points of bending which necessitated acetylene-welding the corners after bending to provide suflicient strength and eliminate racking of the frames.

Furthermore, such frames were constructed for I supporting purposes only and as same were constructed of angle iron, it was necessary to cover such frames in order to provide a finished cabinet of pleasing appearance.

Furthermore, such frames were constructed in f such manner that they did not readily admit of different units being supported thereby, thus necessitating separate frames for cabinets provided with differently arranged compartments.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a method of frame construction for cabinets whereby a novel frame can readily be provided by relatively few operations. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of constructing a chassis for cabinets formed of ornamental sheet metal whereby same serves not only as a supporting means but also in a decorative or ornamental capacity thereby eliminating the necessity of covering the frame in the finished cabinet.

A still further-object of the invention is a novel 7 method of constructing a cabinet chassis from strips of sheet metal, which strips are subjected to a rolling operation to provide the required strength as well as poviding an ornamental appearance, bending required lengths of such strips into rectangular shapes and spot-welding the meeting ends thereof, spot-welding sheet metal gussets in the corners of the rectangular. members and providing sheet metal supports for supporting the rectangular members in fixed spaced relation to provide a chassis of relatively light yet strong construction and which is endowed with the dual function of serving as a supporting means as well as an ornamental finish for the completed cabinet construction.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gas range constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 21s a perspective view of a frame or chassis as embodied in the range construction in Fig. 1 and disclosing the novel method of construction.

Fig. 2A is a sectional perspective view disclosing the cross-sectional configuration of the top frame member and sheet metal top' associated therewith. 5

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 disclosing amodified form of frame or chassis construction.

Fig. 3A is a view similar to Fig. 2A disclosing the cross-sectional configuration ofthe top frame member of the construction in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section of the range construction disclosed in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective view disclosing the connection betweenone of the vertical supports and the bottom frame member of the form disclosed in Fig. 3.

Fig; 6 is a sectional perspective view similar to Fig. 5 disclosing a modified form of vertical support and. its connection with the bottom frame member of the form disclosed in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6A is a sectional perspective view of a further modified form of vertical support.

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view of the splasher back construction. I r

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an oven unit.

Fig. 8A is a sectional perspective view disclosing the oven front frame construction and the association of the oven door therewith.

Fig. 8B is a transverse sectional view of the oven front frame construction and associated parts. a

Fig. 8C is a fragmental front elevation showing the oven front frame.

The present invention, while relating to cabinet constructions, relates particularly to methods of constructing the chassis or frame work of cabi- 'nets such as ranges, refrigerators, etc.. which invention and wherein C (Fig. 1) designates a cabinet construction which is represented as a gas range and which comprises a chassis or frame construction F. shown in perspective in Fig. 2, an

oven 0, a burner compartment B on either side of the oven 0 and a splasher rack 5 together with other elements later described.

The chassis F as indicated in Fig. 2 comprises a top rectangular frame "I, a bottom rectangularframe I I, a pair of supports l2 for supporting the bottom frame I] and for supporting the front corners of the top frame In and a pair of sheet metal supports I 3 for supporting the rear corners of the top frame Hi from corresponding comers pleted cabinet construction.

The strips ill and i l are preferably rolled at their opposite edges as indicated at Mid and lid each of which rolls preferably enclose a rod tile and lie which rods further increase the rigidity of the strips and which together with the rolled edges provide strips of channel "formation.

The strips 10 and II are each bent into a rectangularframe after which the adjacent ends are spot welded.

Each frame ill and II is completed by the provision of gussets M. and !5 which as is clearly indicated in Fig. 2 comprise sheet metal strips also of corrugated formation as more clearly in dicated in Figs. 5 and 6 and which are of somewhat expanded U-shape with the legs thereof spot-welded to the frames l0 and l I. These gussets reinforce the frames l0 and H and prevent racking thereof.

The vertical portions of the supporting members I2 are disposed at the front corners of the frames Ill and H and by the provision of the gussets l4 and I5 triangular spaces are provided at the corners which well serve for the positioning of cast iron filler blocks to which the supporting members l2 are secured in the manner about to be described. The filler blocks l6 are of triangular shape in plan and are provided with suitable lugs lGa and I6?) which conform to indentations in the. corrugated frames l0 and II and gussets l4 and I5 respectively, as is clearly indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, whereby the filler blocks are rigidly maintained in position in the corners of the frames.

The filler blocks are of course positioned in the corners of the frames :9 and II prior to the spot welding of the gussets It and E5 thereto.

The construction of the frames I0 and ll of a single corrugated or rolled strip as hereinbefore described is highly satisfactory for the usual or average quality product. For a higher quality product, similar frames lfla and Na as illustrated in Figs. 3, 3A, 4 and 5, may each be constructed by the combination of two pre-formed channels, the outer ones of which are of the same configuration asthose already described in frames l0 and II and the inner ones of which designated at Nb and llb respectively have the opposite channel forming flanges thereof telescoped within the channel forming rolled edges of the outer members as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3A and 5, As is indicated in Fig.5 the lugs 16a on the filler block l6 are of a somewhat different configuration than those illustrated in Fig. 6 in order to properly seat within the depressions or corrugations 'of the inner frame members "lb and Mb.

The supporting members l2 are preferably constructed each in two sections, an upper The upper filler blocks which receive the upper ends at the supporting sections 52a do not have a hole therethrough but are'each provided with a recess or depression in the bottom thereof toreceive the upper end of the corresponding section l2a, as is illustrated in Fig. 4.

The lower supporting sections lfib act as supporting feet and the rear portions thereof may be cont nued vertically and seated in filler blocks at the rear of the lower frame H as can be seen from Fig. 2 or the rear portions of the sections 52b may be supported by brackets ll suitably supported from the rear corners of the lower framemember H as is indicated in Figs. 1,- 3 and 4.

The ends of sections Na and l 2b preferably have a force fit in the filler blocks but a set screw may be provided in each of the filler blocks to in keeping with the upper and lower frame construction as is indicated in Fig. 6, wherein the supporting member l2 comprises a main or supporting preformed strip I9 and a reinforcing and finishing preformed strip I911. The supporting members, whether of tubular or strip stock,'are constructed of relatively light gauge material and while either form of construction is highly satisfactory from the standpoint of rigidity, the strip stock form shown in Fig. 6 provides supports of the general line formation of the frames I 0 and II as well as other finishing parts later described and accordingly enhances the appearance of the finished cabinet.

In Fig. 6A is illustrated a modified form of support wherein the main supporting strip I9 is straight between the rolled edges and which is of substantially the same form as the preformed strip utilized in the oven front frame construction later described.

By utilizing the dual strip construction of Fig. 6A wherein the main supporting strip is of the same configuration as that utilized in the oven front frame, the number of different forms of channels required is reduced, thereby reducing the cost of the finished cabinet.

The splasher-back S comprises a pre-formed strip or molding 2! of the same configuration as the molding utilized in the frame E0. The strip 2! is of substantially inverted Uform with the ends of the leg portions extending substantially to the lower'edge of.frame ID as well as to the upper ends of the sheet metal supports as is indicated in Fig. l.

Disposed within the strip 2| is a splasher back sheet 22 having a rolled portion 22a and which is constructed of sheet metal and is of dished formation with the flanged edges 22b thereof inserted within 2. rolled edge of, the strip 2| as is clearly shown in Fig. '7.

The range according to the construction in Fig.

straight section i2a and a lower angular section I 1 includes the concealed valve mechanism V and 1 which is concealed by the splasher back sheet I and is provided with rolled edges 24a in sliding plate 25 directly behind contact with rolled or beaded edges 25a on a valve supporting plate 25.

The valve handles or knobs are disposed within the slide 24 and are accessible upon moving the slide to the right or left by means of a suitable manipulating handle 24b.

The valves V are disposed in pipes 26 intercon-' necting the manifold M with the respective corners 21 which are disposed in the burner com partments B.

The manifold M is arranged behind the splasher back and the pipes 26 enter the burner compartments B through recesses 28 to the upper ends of the sheet metal supports l3 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The oven 0 as is illustrated in detail in Figs.

8, 8A, 8B and 80 comprises a front 3| which' comprises a strip ofsheet metal having rolled edges 3 la providing a channel substantially of the same configuration as the channel I9 illustrated in Fig. 6A. This channel strip 3| is bent into rectangular form and secured at the abutting ends by .welding. The frame 3! projects beyond the oven front whereby one of the rolled edges 3") forms a rectangular bead which is received in a similarly shaped groove- 32 formed in the oven door lining.

The oven is completed by double walled top, side and back jackets 33, 34 and 35 respectively, suitable insulating material I being disposed between the jacket walls as indicated. As is indicated in Fig. 8 the jacket ends are so arranged as to permit of various widths and heights of the oven and broiler construction whereby different sized ovens can readily be formed by providing frames 3! of different dimensions.

The oven is provided with a horizontal partition P dividing same into an oven compartment and a broiler compartment which are normally closed by doors 36 and 31 respectively.

\ The oven 0 including the broiler is readily insertable as a unit between the frames HI and II with the opposite sides adjacent-the back thereof in contact with flanges 39 on the supports l3 and with the bottom thereof resting on the adjacent edges of sheet metal shelf plates 4| as is clearly indicated in Fig. 4. The top or working r surface of the range is-provided by suitable sheet metal plates 42 and 43, the former of which is disposed above the oven 0 and the latter of which From the foregoing it will be seen that all of the supporting members in the range construction are of relatively light gauge sheet steel which has many advantages over the relatively heavy angle iron of T or L shape heretofore used among which may be enumerated the following:' (a) light/erconstruction; (b) can be assembled with greater facility, and (c) the channels entering into the different frames or supports do not require being covered as in former constructions.

While the rolled sheet steel strips provide a lighter chassis than that heretofore obtained by the use of angle iron, the chassis is fullyasstrong due to the cross-sectional configuration of the strips obtained by the rolling process.

' In constructing the chassis, the frames are disposed one over each former compartment l I are each formed from a strip of the rolled sheet steel of a required length which is.bent into a rectangular frame by means of a suitable bending jig, after which the cast iron filler blocks it are placed in the corners of the frames and the gussets i4 and I5 spot-welded to the frames.

The supporting members 12 or l2 or at least the upper sections thereof, are then inserted into the filler blocks either by force fit or by using a set screw in each block or both. r

The supporting members l3 are then secured to the frames l0 and II by spot-welding, thus providing the chassis construction illustrated in Fig. 2 or Fig. 3.

Under some circumstances it may be found deferent assembly stations at each of which certain parts are automatically set in place and welded and finally after-several operations, the chassis is carried into the spray booth, sprayed with synthetic enamel or black japan, and thereafter baked in a continuous oven.

Instead of the progressive automatic spotwelding process above described, portable guntype spotwelders may be used for the general assembly of the chassis by which the entire chassis can be spot-welded in relatively short time and thereafter the entire assembly may be sprayed with synthetic enamel and then baked.

The structural members entering into the chassis construction are not only given the requisite strength in the rolling or pre-forming operation, but they possess an aesthetic value as well as serving as supports for the range construction.

In using angle iron for the chassis as in former constructions, it-wasnecessary to cover same in order to provide a good appearance of the finished cabinet.

With the use of the rolled sheet steel channels, however, it is not necessary tocover same.- In fact, the cabinet is given a better appearance by leaving same uncovered as can readily be seen upon inspection of Fig. 1. The channels in accordance with the present invention while fulfilling the requirements of supports are also a part of the exterior finish of the cabinet and provide a cabinet of marked appearance as is well illustrated in Fig. 1.

The use of strip sheet steel for the production of frame channels 'is advantageous in other respects also as the frames can readily be constructed by the use of comparatively few tools. In fact, rol1s,a bending jig and spot welding equipment is all that is required.

Furthermore, there is no waste in material as iii anddther accessory parts. I

The frame channels also materially aid in various color schemes for the finished cabinet as the channels can be of a color different from the oven and broiler doors as well as the sheet metal shelf members or some of the channels can be of a color different from others of the channels,

' thus providing an almost unlimited range of color tions due to such parts being subject to too great heat which does not occur in the open,

construction of the present invention wherein such parts are remote from hot-spots.

In the use of two channels, however, the inner one may be of gauge japanned stock, while the outer one may be of .015 thick stainlesssteel, whereby the cost will not be too great due to the excessive cost of stainless steel. While the double channel frame shown in Figs. 3 and 3A would be somewhat more expensive than the single channel frame shown in Figs. 2 and 2A it possesses some marked advantages as the possibility of damage to the exterior of the frame during assembly and the possibility of replacement of the molding or outer channel member, for the reason that the supports are connected to the inner channel member only whereby the outer channel member or-molding can be telescoped over the edge flanges of the inner member after the same has been assembled with the supporting members.

In constructing the supporting members Q2 of a pair of channels it makes provision for. materially enhancing the appearance of the range in that the outer channel may be of a colordifierent from the inner channel; also this form of construction materially reduces fabrication costs in that a chrome-plating department is not required for the reason that the outer channel may be of .015" thick chromene. In other words, the channel may be constructed from a chrome plated steel strip. The inner channel may be black japanned whereby the supports will have a very pleasing appearance.

Other color arrangements may of course be resorted to.

The splasher back being made, in two pieces as illustrated in Fig. 7 eliminates the necessity of I an expensive drawing-die which would be necessary in the event that it were constructed in one piece. Furthermore, the splasher wall can be made of a material which is not susceptible to hot splashing grease, preferably vitreous enamel, and the pre-formed molding can be chromene or stainless steel.

An additional advantage of this construction is that the parts or edges most susceptible :to

arsaeoo What we claim as new and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:-

1. A method of constructing a frame for cabi- V nets which comprises the following steps, bend ing strips of pre-formed sheet metal into rectangular forms, welding the ends of said'strips to provide a pair of rectangular members, disposing perforated filler blocks in the corners of said members, securing gussets to said members for confining the. filler blocks in the corners of said members, and inserting adjacent ends of sectional supporting members in the perforations in said filler blocks.

2. A method of constructing a cabinet which comprises the following steps, providing a pair of corrugated sheet-steel frames, supporting said frames by sheet-steel tubular supports, at the front thereof and by sheet-steel plates at the rear thereof, disposing sheet-steel units between said frames, and disposing corrugated sheet-steel strips over the outer edges of said sheet-steel plates.

3. A method of forming cabinet frame structural members comprising the following steps: rolling sheet metal strips to provide longitudinal corrugations intermediate the edges thereof, rolling opposite edges of the sheet metal strips into hollow cylindrical beads, cutting the sheet metal strips into predetermined lengths and bending the resulting sections of the strips into rectangular forms.

4. A method of forming cabinet frame structural members comprising the following steps; rolling sheet metal strips to provide longitudinal corrugations intermediate the edges thereof,

rolling opposite edges of the strips into hollow cylindrical beads, inserting reinforcing rods in the hollow beads, cutting the strips thus formed into predetermined lengths, and bending the resulting sections of the strips into rectangular forms.

5. A method of forming a cabinet frame structural member, comprising the following steps: rolling opposite edges of a sheet metal strip into hollow cylindrical beads, bending opposite edges of' a longitudinally corrugated sheet metal strip for providing a 'strip of channeled form, and disposing opposite edges of the channel thus formed into frictional contact with the hollow cylindrical beads.

6. A method of forming a cabinet frame structural member, comprising the following steps: forming longitudinal corrugations in a pair of sheet metal strips between the edges thereof, rolling the edges of one of the strips into hollow cylindrical beads for providing a strip of channel formation, bending the edges of the other strip to provide, a strip of channel formation, and disposing the channels in face to face relation with the legs of one channel disposed between and in contact with the beads of the other channel. 4

- 7. A method of constructing a cabinet frame which comprises the following steps: forming sheet metal strips with corrugations intermediate their edges, bending the strips into rectangular forms, welding the ends of the strips to provide a pair of rectangular frame members, disposing filler blocks in the corners of the frame members, securing gussets to the frame members for con-' fining the filler blocks in the corners thereof, inserting opposite ends. of supporting members in the filler blocks at corresponding sides of the frame members for supporting them in vertically spaced relation, and inserting opposite ends of additionalsupporting members in the filler blocks a,iso,soo

of one .of the frame members for vertically supporting same. a a

8. A method of constructing a cabinet frame, comprising the following steps: bending longitudinally corrugated sheet metal strips into rectangular forms, welding adjacent ends of the strips to provide a :pair of frame members, disposing cast iron filler blochs in interlocking engagement with the frame members in the corners thereof, interlocking gussets with the filler-blocks andsecuring same to the frame members. and disposing sheet metal mpporting members in and through the filler blocks for supporting the frame members in vertically spaced relation.

9. A method of contrncting a cooking range, comprising the following steps: providing a pair of longitudinally corrugated sheet metal rectangular frames, supporting the frames horizontally and in vertically spaced relation by corrugated sheet metal supports, securing opposite ends of a corrugated sheet metal strip of inverted U-shapetotheupperoneofsaid frames,dis-

posing a sheet metal platehaving corrugations intermediateitsedgeswithinthespaccdeilned by one side of the upper of said. frames and said strip to provide a splasher back, disposing a fuel control means behind said plate, providing a control means access opening in the corrugated portion of the plate, and providing an opening closing plate of corrugated form slidably disposed over the corrugations of the first mentioned plate.

10. A method of constructing an oven unit. comprising the following steps: rolling opposite edses'of a sheet metal strip to provide cylindrical beads,bending the strip into rectangular form and welding opposite ends thereof to provide a. rigid frame, securing doublewalled sheet metal top,

' bottom, back and side walls to each other and said frame to provide an oven compartment with one of the beads of said frame projecting forwardly of the compartment, providing a door for opening and closing the compartment, and forming a rectangular groove in the inner face of the door for receiving the projecting head in sealing engagement therewith when the door is closed.

JACOB TEILER. ARTHUR P. SCHULZ. 

